On This Day, 12 November 1918

Birmingham Daily Gazette

Tuesday 12 November 1918

HOW THE GOOD NEWS WAS RECEIVED

CELEBRATION IN BIRMINGHAM

MERRY CROWDS IN THE STREETS

THE GAZETTE FIRST WITH THE NEWS

There were wonderful and stirring scenes of rejoicing in Birmingham yesterday. The strain of waiting broke with the receipt of the news, and a remarkable transformation took place, the feeling of tense excitement giving way to cheering and thanksgiving. Newsboys with the special edition of the Birmingham Gazette, the boom of the maroons, and the sounding of the factory sirens formed the signal for general “down tools” in the city. The workers streamed from the factories, housewives left their work, and people fraternising freely, made their way in immense streams to the centre of the town.

As if by magic, flags were produced, and the thoroughfares, dull and drab one minute, were gay with bunting and flags the next. Everyone was in a holiday spirit, and the main streets became practically impassable, and remained so for the remainder of the day.

A Gazette representative gave the details of the official messages to the civic authorities, and the flag was immediately run up at the Council House. The crowd in the square, as one man, turned round, faced the municipal building, and saluted the Union Jack by raising their hats and waving their hands.